The U.S. Senate unanimously passed the Disrupt Explicit Forged Images and Non-Consensual Edits Act, known as the DEFIANCE Act, taking a major bipartisan step to address AI-generated explicit deepfakes. The bill now heads to the House, where lawmakers will decide its future. Supporters say it responds to how “existing laws have not kept pace with technological change,” as AI tools make fake explicit images easier to create and spread.
The DEFIANCE Act focuses on protecting people whose likenesses are used without consent in sexually explicit digital content. Backers call it a “long-overdue response” to technology that has moved from niche use to widespread access, enabling serious harm to private individuals as well as public figures.
A key provision gives victims the right to sue creators or knowing distributors of explicit deepfakes for civil damages of at least $150,000 per violation. Lawmakers argue this shifts power directly to victims and creates real deterrence, especially since current state laws vary widely and often leave people without effective recourse.
Advocates stress that harm from deepfake pornography does not end once content is posted. Such material can be copied and shared endlessly, leading to lasting emotional distress, reputational damage, job loss, and fear. By creating a clear federal civil remedy, the bill aims to lower barriers to justice and accountability.
Public figures have helped build momentum. Paris Hilton warned that AI tools “make it easier than ever” for deceptive images to go viral, while Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said current laws may not fully address AI-enabled abuse. If enacted, the DEFIANCE Act would mark one of the strongest federal responses yet to nonconsensual explicit deepfakes.
